Anton Chekhov authored his novella The Duel in 1891; one of the longest of the Russian master's tales, it pits an aristocratic ne'er-do-well named Laevsky against a conceited and slightly arrogant scientist called Van Koren, and witnesses a climactic physical struggle between the two men. This film adaptation from Georgian director Dover Koshashvili follows the original text with remarkable fidelity; in it, Laevsky (Andrew Scott) clings to ephemeral pleasures such as drinking, gambling, and romancing his alluring mistress Nadya (Fiona Glascott) in the Russian provinces - putting all of the said pursuits far ahead of disciplined action - but he soon grows listless and disenchanted with Nadya, falls into financial ruin, and ultimately must fight Van Koren in a vicious duel thanks to Nadya's sexual liaisons with the man. This cinematization enlists a predominantly British cast and a screenplay adaptation by Mary Bing.

~Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide